Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 252(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 252(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
Ivy looked at him in horror. “That would have been tragic. They’re making threats.”
“Show me.”
“Can you look?” she asked, handing him the phone without looking at the screen. “They’re in the messages.”
Holding the device behind her so the words wouldn’t be in her view, Steele found a number of messages from the bank president that on the surface seemed cordial as they asked how she was feeling. He frowned at the underlying tone that contradicted his encouragement for her to take as much time off as she needed to heal.
He kept searching for something from anonymous sources. There.
Send us your access codes and we’ll leave you alone.
You thought the dumpster was scary. Give us the codes now.
Hiding from us at that bikers’ compound is smart. We’re done playing.
The Guardians can’t protect you 24/7/365.
You have 48 hours before we start targeting others at the bank.
30 hours. Send the codes or someone will pay for your stubbornness.
Steele glanced at the time on the phone. Thirty hours would correspond with the end of the following workday. The employees would leave the bank around that time.
“What are these codes?” Steele asked.
Ivy abandoned her struggle to keep the confidential bank information from him. They weren’t going to give up. Steele would need to know everything to help her figure out what to do. “The board set up a system of checks and balances to divide the access to certain accounts and information between the board president, the bank president, and the bank manager. The codes allow me to complete certain processes without approval from someone else.”
“Bottom line—what could someone do if they had all the codes?”
“If they had all the codes? Everything: enter the building outside of regular hours, access the vault, transfer funds, withdraw money, search employee records, wipe away accounting records, and much more. My codes would allow them to do a third of those activities.”
“Was there a reason they divided the access between three people?”
Ivy looked around the room to make sure no one was within hearing range. “Someone moved money from an account that had been inactive for a long period of time with no way to track it. We only knew about that case because an heir approached the bank with statements that showed the discrepancy,” she explained.
“And the records were gone so there was no way to prove what had happened to it,” Steele guessed.
“No. There was also no way to determine if someone had tampered with any other accounts, either. I have my suspicions about who took the money and was collecting data to support an allegation before I take it to the board.”
“Could someone be after your notes?” Steele asked.
“I wouldn’t think so. No one knows about them. And they wouldn’t need the codes for those. For the first time ever, I didn’t follow the bank’s protocol. It’s not protected in the computer system. I disguised the information in a printed file comparing bank usage for different age groups. It’s in my desk.”
“Did anyone know you were playing detective?” He did not like the idea that Ivy could have placed herself directly in the line of danger.
“No. No one. At least I don’t think so.”
“So, they want access into the bank’s electronic system for some reason,” Steele said, trying to pull together the information they knew so it would make sense. “Do they need to be in the bank?”
“It would be easier. Using my computer with the access codes would streamline the process.”
“What access do you have, Little girl?”
“I can’t tell you. I can’t tell anyone. They’re going to hurt someone today,” Ivy said, trying to blink away the tears filling her eyes.
“Little girl, I understand that there is official bank business you can’t share with me. Nothing is worth your life or anyone else’s. Call the two who have the other codes. Set up a meeting for tomorrow morning.”
He watched her thoughts race across her face. Finally, she nodded and reached for her phone. Steele wrapped an arm around her waist to hold Ivy in place when she scooted to slide off his lap.
“I need to talk privately, Steele.”
Reluctantly, he allowed her to move away. He watched her closely as she selected a number from her directory.
CHAPTER
FOURTEEN
“I’ll be fast,” Ivy assured Steele.
“I don’t like you going in by yourself,” he growled.
“The bad guys aren’t in the bank,” she assured him, crossing her fingers by her side so he didn’t see. Mr. Harris wouldn’t attack her in the bank. She was sure of it.
“Five minutes and then I’m coming in.”
Ivy didn’t answer, but opened the door. Straightening her traditional suit jacket, she walked to the entrance. She could feel the effects of her injury as she moved, thanking Steele for vetoing her usual heels for flats. Making a big scene in the parking lot by falling off stilettos would not have aided her attempts to get in and out quickly.